Phase 1 of the IDDP well will be rotary drilled to a depth of 2.7 km at Reykjanes, beginning in November 2004, and lasting about 50 days, funded by Hitaveita Sudurnesja, an Icelandic the energy company. After the well heats up it will be flow tested in 2005. Geological, and geochemical sampling and geophysical logging will be carried out by ISOR, as for a conventional Icelandic geothermal well. The ICDP in Potsdam will provide funds to obtain 2 or 3 spot cores from the bottom of this drillhole. This will mark the beginning of our international scientific effort in the IDDP.

Phase 2. Because of the realities of the funding situation and environmental considerations that restrict drilling during the spring and early summer (May-July), the nesting season of Arctic Terns, deepening the well will be phased over the years 2006 and 2007. In Phase 2, we propose to case the well to 2700 m and then to deepen it from 2.7 to 4.0 km. To reduce costs this will be done by rotary drilling instead of continuous coring that was originally proposed. We anticipate that the Icelandic energy companies, and the Icelandic Government (IS) will fund the basic rotary drilling costs of Phase 2 and that ICDP will provide funds to obtain several spot cores during Phase 2 drilling. We will also propose that the National Science Foundation of the USA (NSF) at least matches the ICDP funding so that we can at least double the amount of spot coring in Phase 2. A second flow test will be carried out in 2007.

Phase 3. Based on the expected thermal gradient temperatures at 4.0 km should approach 400°C, so that for salinities like that of seawater, we will have to drill deeper in order to approach supercritical conditions. Phase 3, of the IDDP, will drill from 4.0 to 5.0 km in 2007 or 2008. Because of the extreme scientific interest in such high-temperature hydrothermal conditions we propose to continuously core that interval using a hybrid coring system. We anticipate funding this partly from ICDP and from proposals to the NSF and other funding agencies such as the IODP, other science funding agencies, and energy companies.

Phase 4 will begin in 2008-2009 and consist of a third flow test of the 5.0 km borehole and pilot plant studies. Funding for Phase 4 will be sought from the European Commission (EC) – Framework Program 7 (FP7), from energy companies, and from other potential funding sources.

Scientist interested in participating in the IDDP should email a brief statement of their interest to gof@hs.is as soon as possible.

PLEASE NOTE the change in date of the meeting of IDDP-SAGA and invited participants.
The meeting will take place JUNE 1-2, 2004, from 9:00-17:00.Meeting place: Landsvirkjun: Dispatch Center, Bustadavegur 7, Reykjavik.